Chapter 4

WINTER

Have you ever felt your world fall apart in a single heartbeat? That’s exactly how it felt when I saw Kallias with Crystal two days ago. I’ve locked myself away in my room since then. Khione wept uncontrollably inside me, I did everything I could to soothe her but the pain didn’t fade. I know it would never fade.

It’s only on the third day that I feel the weight beginning to ease just enough for me to breathe without feeling like I’m splintering from the inside out. I realized I needed to get out for a while,

So I saddled up my favorite horse from the stables and slipped past Stoneclaw Pack’s borders just after dusk. I haven’t seen Kallias again and l doubt he’ll come looking for me.

As I rode with no destination, the calm evening did nothing to soothe my thoughts.

I stopped when a bar came into my sight then walked toward it.

"Welcome, lady," The bartender didn’t seem to recognize me, good.

"I'll have a glass of red wine."

"Coming right up. Rough day?"

I smiled faintly. Within seconds, he set the glass before me.

I took it in my hand, hesitating for a heartbeat before lifting it to my lips.

'I haven’t touched a drop since I'm with Kallias, he always told me not to.'

Well, screw him. He just betrayed me. I welcomed the burn as it slid down my throat,

By the time I set down the second empty glass, my limbs felt lighter and I began to feel lightheaded.

'Alright, enough Winter, you can't get drunk while all alone.'

The bar wasn’t crowded, there were only a few visitors scattered around. My eyes wandered lazily until they landed on a man who had been sitting in the same corner since I arrived.

He sat in the shadowed corner, a spot to avoid attention, but it didn’t work. Not on me.

Who is he?

Tall as hell, broad-shouldered, he was too handsome to be sitting there alone. His rough appearance didn’t diminish his looks at all, it added to them. He’d been staring out the window until suddenly his gaze shifted and landed on me.

Our eyes locked.

Selene help me… my heart dropped.

His eyes were a rich, liquid amber, glowing faintly in the dim light. Beautiful. I couldn’t look away. My breath hitched when I noticed the faint scar etched at the corner of his lips.

Something inside me stirred. Not lust.

I blinked and quickly looked away.

Shit. What the hell was I doing?

"Another one, lady?" The bartender asked already reaching for the bottle.

"No. Enough," The fog in my head might already be more than I could handle.

I pulled out a few gold coins and tossed them on the counter. I needed to get back to the castle before something else happened.

But before I left, I couldn’t stop myself. I glanced over my shoulder. He was still there.

I turned toward the door when suddenly, two men stepped into my path.

"Leaving so soon, sweetheart?" One of them asked. "We were just about to invite you over. Better sitting on my lap than sitting all alone."

Who the hell were these bastards?

"Do I know you two? What pack are you from?"

"Pack?" The taller one sneered. "Those mutts who kneel under some pompous idiot calling himself ‘Alpha’? Pathetic. True wolves don't obey."

Rogues. My wolf stirred, tense and snarling inside me.

Before I could move, one of them lunged with predatory speed, his arm snaking around my waist and pulling me flush against him. "Don't tell me you're one of those well-trained little pets-"

"Don’t touch me!" I snarled, shoving him hard.

The heat of my fury did nothing but amuse them.

"Her voice. Damn. Sexy as fuck. Imagine how sweet it’d sound moaning our names when we’re both filling her hole."

My fists clenched. Khione roared inside me.

There was nothing I wanted more in that moment than to claw their eyes out with my bare hands.

But even I wasn’t foolish enough to think I stood a chance. Running was the only option.

I turned sharply, ready to bolt for the door, but rough hands snatched me back,

“Let me go!” I screamed, my voice hoarse.

No one moved. No one helped me.

"Pretty little thing like you made for nothing more than to warm our dick."

His tongue flicked across my skin.

Revulsion surged in my gut and I kicked wildly, clawing at the air like a caged animal.

Just when I thought it was over, when I felt their hands reach my breast, their grip vanished. I stumbled and hit the floor hard.

Panting, I twisted around.

The two rogues were sprawled on the floor groaning in pain, blood smeared across one of their mouths. I look up at the figure standing between me and them,

It was the stranger from the corner.

He moved before I could even process it.

In the blink of an eye, he snatched one of the rogues off the ground and slammed him into the wall so hard the wood cracked. The second barely had time to run.

What followed wasn’t a fight, it was a slaughter.

The sickening crack of bone, the thud of a body hitting the floor, the choking stench of blood.

I squeezed my eyes shut and clamped my hands over my ears.

My breath came in shallow gasps as I backed away until my back struck the edge of a table.

Then the voices stopped.

When I finally dared to open my eyes, the bar was empty. There are only two mangled bodies and him.

He turned to face me, seeing my state he smirked "First time seeing that? Then this place isn’t for you, pup. Leave."

I blinked, my breath caught in my throat.

Did he just call me- pup?

I pushed myself to my feet, still trembling. “Who are you? Do you even know who I am?”

Standing this close, I can't breathe. He was so majestic up close.

I’d never seen a wolf like him before in any pack or any rank.

Handsome in that raw, untamed way. The scars lacing his tan skin weren’t flaws, they were art, the kind the Goddess herself would’ve etched. And those muscles… no wonder he’d torn through those rogues like paper.

He was a beast in man form.

“Just go home. I sure as hell don’t give a fuck who you are.” He growled.

Arrogant. Brutal. Still… he saved me.

"You just helped me,” I said, steadying my voice. “Let me... reward you...”

Something flickered in his eyes the second the words left my lips.

He stared down at me, the sheer height difference forcing me to look up.

His fists clenched tight, without a word, he turned around and walked away.

"Wait!" I called, "Wait! Y- whatever your name is!"

But just as I stepped forward, the world spun around me and I slumped down.

-----

I don’t know how but when I opened my eyes, I was already lying at the edge of Stoneclaw’s border. The chill of the morning air stung my cheeks. My head throbbed as I pushed myself to my feet.

What the hell had happened last night?

I tried to remember, but the memory was foggy.

Later. I’d piece it together later. Right now, I need a hot bath and some food.

I crossed the border, dragging my feet toward the castle. The moment I stepped inside, the guards and maids’ eyes trailed after me. I climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Then I stopped.

Crystal was walking from the opposite hall, hips swaying, humming happily like she owned the castle.

Hold on! She was wearing my fucking dress! And my emerald jewelry set! The one Kallias had gifted me on my last birthday.

She noticed me too, and her humming stopped.

“Oh, Winter. You’ve recovered? Since when? Where’ve you come from anyway? You look like a wreck.” She asked shamelessly.

She’d just bathed, but not even the thickest soaps could wash away Kallias’s scent that clung to her. Disgusting.

The images of that night in his room crashed into me again.

“Surprised to see me back on my feet, Crystal?” I stepped closer. “Why? Afraid your Luna charade might be over now?”